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Title: Chinese (Mandarin) II by Pimsleur ISBN: 0-7435-0661-8 Publisher: Pimsleur Intl Inc Pub. Date: 01 January, 2002 Format: Audio CD Volumes: 16 List Price(USD): $345.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (5 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Highly Recommended!
Comment: After finishing Mandarin I, I felt as though I had a good feel for the language, but my vocabulary was too limited to be of any real use. Mandarin II solves this problem by introducing the most basic and useful structures which weren't included in Mandarin I (For example, "should, have to, never, always, before, after, etc."). It is almost impossible to carry out basic conversations without these structures. Mandarin II also deals extensively with the past tense (which isn't really a tense) to the point where it can be used, more or less, with confidence.
Mandarin II is very similar to Mandarin I in lesson structure, pace, and quality. Like Mandarin I, the lessons are intense, and they teach so much in such a short time, but they're also very fun. As I worked through Mandarin II, the tones and pronunciation started to shift to the subconscious level and I could successfully combine two falling-rising tones in a sentence without even thinking about it. It's as if I'm absorbing the language naturally. This would have taken forever without Pimsleur. Even with a personal tutor, the use of time wouldn't have been nearly as efficient.
I've also finished Mandarin III (which is also excellent) and I now feel as though I have a good overall knowledge of Mandarin, and my pronunciation is close to perfect (I've been told that I don't have an accent). I am now trying to learning the more advanced aspects of the language through self-study and conversational practice, which is entirely possible after completing this course.
Rating: 5
Summary: Great Series
Comment: I've tried several language tapes and software packages before but this is the one that I've had the most success with. I completed Mandarin I and when I saw that Mandarin II was available, I ordered it immediately. I've completed Mandarin II and now I'm working on Mandarin III. Too bad that's as far as the series goes.
I won't say that I'm conversing fluently in Mandarin but the entire series is only 45 hours of instruction so I think you have to be realistic in your expectations. For me, Pimsleur is the right approach. I've made genuine progress and I'm told that my pronunciation is reasonably accurate. For someone with moderate skills as far as learning foreign languages go, as well as having started after the age of 40, I'm quite satisfied. I even have a Cantonese speaking friend who borrowed the tapes and used them to improve her Mandarin!
I'd recommend the series to anyone who wants to learn to speak Mandarin. Note that there is no instruction on writing Chinese, only some brief notes on Pinyin. I'd also recommend Modern Chinese from Beijing University for learning Pinyin and the basic components of speech. The Chinese-English Dictionary edited by John DeFrancis is also worth looking into and finally, you can get the Oxford Chinese-English dictionary for Palm OS.
Rating: 5
Summary: Learning while u drive works...
Comment: I wrote a review on Pimsleur Mandarin I. Excellent set. Waited for II. Now it's out. PM II maintains the excellent standards of volume I.
Two months after getting PM II, I went to Beijing for a science meeting (for ten days). I was in excellent shape. Nearly everyone understood me: waiters, shop people (bargains galore), taxi drivers, etc. I never quite had the time to master volume II like I did volume I. But the best thing is the diction and sound that you CANNOT get from a book alone. Pimsleur uses stock phrases to a point, and then mixes them and creates new ideas. Sentences do become longer (occasioanlly they are so long I can't remember them to translate -- I am after all driving). It is not a trivial list of slogans. You actually learn. They speak at a pace that forces you to become more fluid and conversant -- but you can replay the units. Of course it cannot mimic the spontaneity of real-life conversations, but it does an excellent job nevertheless.
Pimsleur is best if regular opportunities exist to practice. Pimsleur is not that simple, yet it is comfortable and thorough. The different arenas: eating, travel about town, "small talk", are all well chosen. I used all of them in Beijing-- some more haltingly than others, some comfortably naturally.
I now hear most tones the first time. I still don't quite stress them strongly enough (I discovered this while there). The down-and-up tone is really emphasized. The daily practice is getting my tongue more and more comfortable with the unusual sounds and twists.
I still think it's a bit pricey. I have the convenience of sitting in a college class -- which does NOT give the oral practice that Pimsleur does, but the class does give me a wider understanding of context and word order.
I will get Pimsleur III when it comes out. I'm serious about learning the language. I think Pimsleur can deliver a lot, but not everything. It is convenient, CDs don't wear out, and I'll keep reviewing. You need to find supplemental ways to expand the dialog still. I AM a satisfied Pimsleur fan.
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Title: Chinese (Mandarin) III (Compr.) [CD] by Pimsleur Language Programs ISBN: 0743525469 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $345.00 |
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Title: Chinese (Mandarin) I by Pimsleur ISBN: 0671790617 Publisher: Pimsleur Intl Inc Pub. Date: 01 January, 2000 List Price(USD): $345.00 |
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Title: Pimsleur Language Program: Chinese Mandarin I by Pimsleur Language Programs, Simon & Schuster Audio, Pimsleur Language Programs ISBN: 0671045849 Publisher: Pimsleur Intl Inc Pub. Date: 01 January, 2000 List Price(USD): $295.00 |
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Title: Learn to Write Chinese Characters (Yale Language Series) by Johan Bjorksten ISBN: 0300057717 Publisher: Yale Univ Pr Pub. Date: October, 1994 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: Reading and Writing Chinese: A Guide to the Chinese Writing System by William McNaughton, Li Ying ISBN: 0804832064 Publisher: Charles E Tuttle Co Pub. Date: September, 1999 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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